Machine for weaving coiled wire  fabric for bed bottoms



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(Nc Model.)

0. P. BRIGGS.

MACHINE POB. WEAVING COILED W1RB-FABR10 FOR BBD BoTToMs.

No. 348,150. Patented Aug. 24. 1886.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

o. P. BRIGGS.

MACHINE POR WBAVING GOILBD WIRE 'FABRIC FOR BED BOTTOMS. No. 348,150. Patenjged Aug. 24,y 1886.

I'IIIIIIHH (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

O. P. BRIGGS'.

MACHINE FOR WBAVING GOILBD WIRE FABRIC .FOR BBD BOTI'oMs.

No. 348,150. Patented Aug. 24, 1886.

Q G?. @wie (No Modem 4 Sheets--Sheet 4.

O. P.BRIGGS.

MACHINE FOR WBAVING GOILED WIRE FABRIC FOR BBD BoTToMs. No. 348,150. Patented Aug. 24, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO P. BRIGGS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES L. AMES AND ABEL H. FROST, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR WEAVING COILED-WIRE FABRIC FOR BED-BOTTOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,150, dated August 24, 1886,

Application filed June 1S, 1885. Serial No. 169,148. (No model.)

To au whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ORLANDO l?. BRIGGs, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Machines forVeavingCoiled- Wire Fabric for Bed-Bottoms and I do hercby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had totheaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an automatic ma chine for weaving coiled-wire fabric for bedbottorns. The apparatus heretofore employed for the purpose of weaving such fabric consists of a broad table on which the fabric lies while being made, and a coiling-machine ar ranged at one end of said table and run by hand or power. In order to enable each new coil as it is being made to run forward into a marginal coil of thc fabric being woven, it is necessary to move the fabric or said marginal coil thereof longitudinally to or from the niachine, preferably about half of the length of one twist of a coil, in order to insure the entrance thereto of the new coil to'be added to said fabric, and to prevent its ruiming out at any point in the length of the coil with which it is being woven. This longitudinal movement of the fabric or of its marginal coil, (for, of course, only the marginal coil need be so movcd,) has heretofore been produced by hand as has also the bodily backward movement upon the table of the entire fabric as new coils are added. Vhen each coil is completed or made of the proper length, the machine is stopped and the coil is cut by hand, and the fabric is readj usted on the table for the reception of a new coil, after which the machine is again started and the operation repeated. It has also been customary in thus weaving bedbottom fabric by hand to interlace or interweave as many coils as are required to make a single bed-bottom, and to thereafter start a new fabric.

In my invention I propose to effect all the several movements required in and by the same machine automatically, and also to make a continuous fabric composed of transverse coils from which a suitable quantity to form a single bed-bottom may be detached as required, either by cuttingthe wire or by the withdrawal otherwise of a coil thereof.

To the ends above set forth my invention consists in the matters substantially hereinafter described, and more definitely pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a machine embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top View of said machine, having parts broken away. Fig. 3 is au elevation of that end of the machine to which the driving-pulley is applied. Fig. 4 is a broken elevation of the opposite end of the machine. The remaining figures are details.

A A is any suitable frame, preferably of such height as to bring the working parts of the machine at a proper elevation to be conveniently manipulated or observed by a person standing. At one end of the frameis located a ceiling mechanism, of which Bisa horizontal driving-shaft mounted in suitable bearings and arranged longitudinally with the machine. Said shaft carries the driving-pulley B", and at one end a pinion, B', which meshes with the spur B3 on the shaft bl, arranged parallel with the shaft B in the long bearing b8 of Fig. 2. The outer face of the spur B3 is provided with a narrow feed cylinder or flange, b, having a circumferential groove, (seen clearly in Fig. 2,) and immediately beneath this spur B3, and intermeshing therewith, as seen in Fig. 1, is located the pinion B* on the shaft b2, and having the opposing wire-feeding cylinder or flange b provided With a groove similar to and opposite that in the face of the ange b.

B5 is the coiling-spindle, arranged to receive the wire from the feed-faces b b' and to4 direct the coil b3 to the left as it passes from said eoiler.

B, Fig. 2, is a suitable guide-plate arranged to direct the coil being made accurately in its proper course lengthwise of the machine as it leaves the coiling-spndle.

Any other suitable coiling mechanism may be employed in place of that above shown and described, which is not new. Y

Mounted on the frame A, and just in the IOO rear of the free end of the coiling-spindle B5, f

is a carrier or feed shaft, E, a little longer than the coils of the fabric, arranged longitudinally of said frame and supported at its ends, as here shown, in a cast-iron box or shell, E,

which, for reasons hereinafter stated, has a.

longitudinal movement upon the frame A. Said carrier is intended to engage the fabric near that edge thereof to which the coils are successively added, and, by a rotative movement produced by means to be described, to carry the fabric backward at suitable intervals as the new coils are added. For this purpose said carrier or feed shaft is provided on its surface with radial pins e5, Fig. 7, arranged in circumferential series at intervals of a few inches along the length of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2. A cap-plate, E5, Figs. 2and 7, rests on the shell E, and is provided with transverse slots e, through which the pins c5 protrude a sufficient distance to properly engage the fabric by entering the same between the wires of its coils. Said fabric is held in positive engagement with the pins e5 by means of any suitable presser or guide arranged above the carrier-shaft, such suitable lneans consisting, as here shown, of a presser-bar, E, of equal length with the frame E3, arranged to bear by its weight upon the fabric directly over the pins c5, and held laterally and removably in place by means of vertical guide-posts e,set in or secured to said frame E3 and rising through or at the sides of said presser-bar, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 7. Instead of a bar, E, a roller lnay be employed, if preferred, which roller may be retained in place by having its ends or terminal spindles arranged in slotted uprights secured to the shell or frame E3.

In front of the carrier-shaft described is located a narrow ledge or table, T, and at the rear of said shaft a broader table, T. At the rear of this table T', and parallel with the earrier-shaft E, is located a long winding-drum, F', mounted upon a shaft or spindle, F, being intended to receive the fabric as it passes backward from the carrier E, and rotated by suitable means, as will be described.

The new coils are successively added im mediatelyin front of the carrier-shell E3, and the coiling-spindle B, or other coiling device employed, is arranged to send the coil forward parallel and in proximity with the front vertical face of said shell, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, either with the aid of a guiding device, B, or by such a position ofthe coiling.- spindle as will render such guide unnecessary, it being common to locate and arrange the coiling-spindle in such a position as to give a desired course to the coil as it leaves said spindle.

In order that the last formed and marginal coil of the fabric may be positively held in proper position, vertically and laterally, to receive the next coil to be added thereto, the edge of the fabric in the machine, as herein shown, is allowed to'depend from the edge of the shell E, or of its cap-plate E5, to the eX- tent, say, of three or four coils, or thereabout, as experience may show to be desirable, the last coil made resting by its gravity in the proper position against the front face of the shell E3 to receive the new eoil to be added. To further insure the proper position of the last-made coil of the fabric and to prevent the fabric from being drawn unevenly forward by the carreir E, a presser, E, is provided, which, as here shown in the drawings, consists of a heavy strip of soft rubber attached to and extending slightly below the front'face of the bar E. Said presser E'i may, however, be wholly independent of the bar E, and may consist of a roller of rubber or of other material, and, if desired, a second roller may be arranged beneath the fabric in opposition to that just mentioned in place of the edge of the plate E5.

In the operation of a machine for automatically weaving coiled-wire fabric, as herein contemplated, it is necessary that the coiling device be arrested on the completion of the coil, that the coil be severed near the coiler, that the fabric be fed forward, and that at least its filial or marginal coil be shifted longitudinally for the reception ofa new coil,

and that on the completion of this last movement the coiler shall be again set in motion. For the accomplishment of these various purposes the following mechanisms are shown: The driving-pulley B2 is made to run loosely on the shaft B and is in constant motion. lt has a clutch-hub and a corresponding gland, C, and is feathered on the shaft B. The gland is operated by a vibrating lever, C3, pivoted at c2 and connected with said gland at c in the usual manner. Fixed to the opposite side of the hub of the pulley B2 is a beveled pinion, Bf', arranged to engage with the similar pinion BT on the vertical shaft b. Said shaft b* is provided with a worm, b5, which engages with the worm-wheel C on the shaft C, which being thus actuated is also in constant motion. Upon said shaft C is fixed a cam-wheel, C", operating by a suitable eleva-tion, c, on its side face, engaged with the roller c on the lower end of the lever C, to throw the gland C* outof engagement with the pulley B. A spring, C7, connected with said lever and with the frame, as shown, opposes the cam and throws the clutch into engagement with the pulley when the roller c has passed the prominence c. At the proper point in the path of the coil b is located a suitable device for severing said coil, which, as here illustrated, consists of a vertically-reciprocating blade, H, which cuts by its upper edge, arranged in suitable relation to the opposing stationary cutter H2, as plainly shown in Fig. 6. The blade H is arranged in suitable guides, as shown, and is attached to the reciprocating vertical slide H', extending down into proximity with the cam C on the shaft G,where it is provided with a laterally-projecting pin, h, which rides-on the periphery of said cam.

c, on said periphery strikes the pin h and lifts the slide H and its connected knife II at the A suitable projection,

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proper time and severs the coil b3. Usually a downwardly-pulling spring will be employed to lower the knife slide; but it may fall by its own weight, if so constructed.

For the purpose of actuating the carrier E, the shaft D is provided, being arranged longitudinally of the machine and beneath said carrier, as clearly shown. Said shaft is driven continuously (unless thrown ont of action by the hand-lever D", as will be explained) by the spur D, meshed with the pinion C5, fixed to the inner end of the shaft C, as seen in Fig. 1. On the shaft D is secured a side bearing cam disk or wheel, D2, consisting, as here shown, of two semicircular plates, d2 d2, affixed in the offset relation shown in Fig. 2, and having their adjacent diametrical edges beveled outwardly in opposite directions, as also seen at d in Fig. 2.v For the purpose of engaging this cam the longitudinally-movable carrier shell or frame E: is provided with a depending rigid arm, Ff, having two rollers, e7 e7, arranged one on either side of the disk D2 and at such a distance apart that by the rotation of the cam the carrier will be thrown alternately one way and the other longitudinally the desired distance to provide for the insertion of each new coil, as stated.

To provide for throwing the shaft D out of action, t-he spur D is made to run loosely on said shaft, and a sliding clutch-gland, D, is feathered on the shaft, and controlled by the hand-lever D*, as shown in Figs. and 2.

For the purpose of giving the desired rotative movement to the carrier-shaft E, said shaft is provided with a ratchet, E', (seen in Fig-4,) engaged by a movable pawl, e2. Said pawl e'2 is pivoted to the free end of the arm E2, which is fulcrumed at @and is vibrated by a cam, Di", on the shaft D, provided with a suitable projection or projections, d, which engage the laterally-projecting rollerpin c on the side of said arm. The winding-drum F is rotated in the same direction with the carrier by means of a belt leading from the pulley E8 on the shaft E to the equal pulley F2 on the shaft or spindle F of said winding-drum, said belt being intended to slip, as required, by the varying quantity offabric on said drum.

The longitudinal and rotative movements of the carrier-shaft E maybe simultaneous or successive, as preferred, andthe winding` drum with the table may partake of the movement of the carrier or not. Provision is made for a laterallystationary position of the pawl e2, when suoli longitudinal movement of the carrier takcs place, by giving the ratchet E suitable width, as shown in Fig. l.

Obviously the several cams Vand connectionsjust described may be so timed in their intervals and durations of movement as to give the required succession to the several operations of starting, stopping, cutting, feeding, and shifting, as will be necessary in an operative machine.

As here illustrated, the machine is represented as being intended to make a fabric conto the same effect.

until the coiler shall have completed said two coils, after which it shifts and feeds.

A coiler adapted to make a double coil by' one operation, or, in other words, two coils simultaneously is the subject of another patent-to wit, No. 335,889, dated February'9, 18S6and when said double wire-coiler is used in the machine herein described, the latter will be arranged to shift and feed at each cycle of movements in the remaining parts. This will be effected by doubling the speed of the shaft D, or reorganizing the cams thereon By throwing the said shaft out of engagement with the clutch D3, a coil containing any number of wires may be formed at intervals in the fabric. Instead of employing the hand-lever D4 here shown for this purpose, a cam-wheel may be used, having its motion reduced by a train of gearwheels actuated from a pinion on the shaft C.

The foregoing description provides for all of the movements and operations requisite for automatically weaving a coiled-wire fabric. Two other operations, usually performed on the fabric before its application to the bedbottom frame, are also provided for in the machine illustrated-namely, the fiattening of the ends of the coils, andthe trimming of the ends of the coils or of the margins of the fabric, for the purpose of fitting the same to be more readily, securely, and neatly fastened to the bed-frame after the fabric has been separated into parts suitable for single bed-bottoms. To these ends a cast-iron section, T", of the table is arranged immediately at the rear of the carrier-case E3, and preferably secured to said case in order to be longitudinally movable with it. Said section of the table is made of length equal to the required length of the coil, or, in other words, equal to the desired width of the fabric, and arranged so that as the fabric passes back ward the raw edges slightly overhang the ends of said table T2. Outside each end of this table T2 is pivoted, at g, a compressing-jaw, G, which has its under face, g*, inwardly extended to overhang said table to a distance of, say, an inch and a half, as best seen in therfront view of the compressing-jaw shown in Fig. 7, said under face, g*, being so directed as when lowered to a distance from `the upper face of the table equal to, say, two thicknesses of the wire entering into the fabric, to stand parallel with said face of the table. Both jaws G are preferably connected with each other by a somewhat elevated bar, G', and said bai-'and jaws may dtsirably be cast in a single piece. The compressing-faces g* may be chilled or faced with hardened steel.

For the purpose of trimming off the edges of the fabric, each jaw G is provided with a steel knife, g5, which is arranged to work like a shear in connection with the outer edge of the table-section T2, which may be steel-faced for this purpose. The jaws are brought down forcibly upon the edges of the fabric at times when the latter is at rest, and in their descent simultaneousl y flatten and trim its edges,a short section at a time. The following are suitable means for actuating the jaws G.

Referring to Figs. l, 2, 3, and 6, D6 is a peripheral cam-wheel, similar to the cam D5,and affixed to the opposite end of the shaft D. G G are horizontal levers pivoted to the frame A at g' g', in position to engage with the peripheries of the several cams D5 Di by a roller-pin, g2, and at the inner ends of said levers are pivoted the connecting-rods G3 Gi, which at their upper ends are also pivoted to the jaws The projections d* d" on said cam,- wheels D5 DG strike the roller-pins g2 and depress the free ends of the levers Gi and thereby force the jaws G G downward upon the edges of the fabric beneath them and flatten it as desired. A spring, G5, or an equivalent weight, G, (shown in dotted lines of Fig. 6,) raises the jaws when the cams have ceased to act and hold them up until aga-in depressed in the manner described.

The fabric may be accumulated upon the drum F to any desired amount, and any suitable registering mechanism maybe employed to denote the quantity so accumulated. When a drum is f1lled,the fabric is severed near the drum and the latter is removed and replaced by another, the construction and mode of mounting the drum for this purpose being such as is well known in similar situations.

The fabric is separable into parts, each of size suited to a single bed-bottom,by the withdrawal of one of the transverse coils, which may be accomplished by drawing it out or by cutting it off near the points where it has been flattened by the jaws G, and rotating it likea screw, so as to carry it out of engagelnent with adjacentv coils or by cutting it centrally or otherwise.

Usually the marginal coils of afabric for each bed-bottom are made up of several wires. By the use of the hand-lever Dl in the machine as here illustrated, these heavier marginal coils may be made to include any desired number of wires, and they may be joined by a single wire coil, which will mark the point of' separation, or suitable automatic means of the character before suggested may be employed to give the heavy marginal coil and to connect them by a single coil. The necessary continuity of the fabric may be obtained by connecting the marginal coil of one bed-bottom with that of the next by means of short hooks or rings, by the removal of which the fabric is separated into parts. For the purpose of this patent such means of connecting sections of the fabric are to be understood as being the equivalent of the method above described,and as covered by the appended claims.

In putting the lnachinein operation, a short section of fabric is first made on the ledge T, or in another ordinary machine, and this secthe shaft E. Said rollers may be arranged in position to serve the purpose both of the carrier and of the tension-regulating presser E", and in this relation such rollers are shown in end elevatiolnand with the fabric between them in Fig. 8.

As above pointed out, the final coil of the fabric, in order to properly receive the new coil, needs to be governed in two particulars. First, it needs to be held in line parallel axially with the new coil to be inserted; and, second, to be longitudinally moved a short distance after the completion of the coil, in order that the end of the new coil may properly and surely enter the successive twists of said last marginal coil, or, in other words, in order that the coil being Iliade may not escape from said last-formed coil while advancing from the coiler. In the machine described the final coil is brought into linear position by the feeding device, which, as here organized, sustains said coil in a dependent position. In the machine as shown, also, the final coil is moved endwise by the action of the devices concerned in feeding the fabric; but, obviously, thesaid final coil may be controlled in both these particulars by mechanism independent of' the feeding devices. For example, the longitudinal movement of the final coil, in the machine Vdescribed, is produced by an endwise movement of the feed cylinder or carrier E, the shell E", and the presser Ef'. Separate means for this longitudinal movement of the final coil may manifestly be employed, actuated bythe cam D2, or otherwise; or, if desired, all means may be omitted from the machine for this purpose,

and the desired movement may be made by thehand of an attendant.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a machine for making coiled-wire fab- .ric for bed-bottoms, the combination, with mechanism for coiling the wire, of automatic means for bringing the final coil into linear position to receive the next coil, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for making coiled-wire fabric for bed-bottoms, the combination, with mechanism for coiling the wire, of mechanism for bringing the final coil of the fabric into` linear position for the insertion of the next coi-l, and mechanism for moving the final coil of the fabric longitudinally after the completion of a coil, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. An automatic machine for weaving coiledwire fabric, embracing the following mechanisms, namely: a wire-coiler, means for arrest- IOO IIS

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-means for supporting the fabric in position to receive the coil to be added, and means for feeding forward the fabric preparatory to the insertion ot'anew coil, said mechanisms being connected and driven to coact in due order and relation, substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic machine for weaving coiled-Wire fabric, the combination of a coiler, mechanism for starting and stopping the coiler, mechanism for severing the coil, mechanism for moving the dna-l coil of the fabriclongitudinally, and mechanism for feeding the woven fabric forward, together with means for actuating these several mechanisms so as to secure their co-operation at proper intervals of time and in due order o'f sequence to produce acontinuous fabric, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic machine for weaving coiled-wire fabric, the combination of acoiler, mechanism for startingand stopping the coiler, mechanism for severing the coil, mechanism for moving the final coil of the fabric longitudinally, mechanism for carrying the fabric forward, mechanism for flattening the edges of the fabric, and means for actuating these several mechanisms at properintervals of time and in due order of sequence so as to produce a continuous fabric, substantially as described. Y

7. In an automatic machine for weaving coiled-wire fabric, the combination of a coiler, mechanism forstarting and stopping the coiler, mechanism for severing the coil, mechanism for moving the i'inal coil of the fabric longitudinally, mechanism for carrying the fabric forward, mechanism for flattening the edges of the fabric, mechanism for trimming the edges of the fabric, and means for actuating these several mechanisms at proper intervals of time and in due order of sequence so as to produce a continuous fabric, substantially as described.

8. In an automatic machine for weaving coiled-wire fabric for bed-bottoins, embracing a wire-coiler,the combination,with the coilerdriving shaft, of the loose pulley B2, provided with the pinion B, the shaft b, provided with the pinion BT and with the worm b5, the shaft C, provided with the worm C and cam C2, the clutch-gland 0*, and the shifting-lever C3, to gether arranged and operating substantially as described, to give the requiredintermittent movement to the coiler, as set forth.

9. In a machine for weaving coiled-wire fabric, the combination, with a wire-coiler and a shaft, C, of the mechanism. for starting and stopping the coiler, the cam C6 on theshaft C, and the reciprocating cutter H, suitably engaged with said cam and arranged to act when tlie coiler is at rest, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a wire-coiling mechanism having an intermittent motion, a carrier, E, having an intermittent movement for feeding the fabric forward and an 1nt ermittent longitudinal movement for bringing the final coil of the fabric into position to receive a new coil, together with suitable actuating mechanism, substantially as described.

1l. In combination with the continuously` rotating shaft C, provided with the pinion C5, and with the carrier E, suitably mounted to allow a rotary and a longitudinally-reciprocating movement thereof, and provided with the studs e7 e7 and ratchet E', the shaft D, provided with the loose wheel D', intermeshed with the pinion C5, and also provided with cams D2 and D5, a clutch for engaging the shaft D with the wheel D', and the pawl e, engaged with the ratchet E', and actuated by cam D5, substantially as described.

12. In an automatic machine for weaving coiled-wire fabric, comprising a coiling mechanism and abodily-movable carrier for feeding the fabric and for shifting the nal coil thereof longitudinally into position to receive an additional coil or coils, the combination of a shaft, D, a loose driving-spur, D, thereon operated from the coiling portion of the machine and having a clutch-hub, a glandD3, feathered on the shaft D, and a lever, D4, by which the spur may be released, and the carA rying and shifting mechanism driven thereby may be allowed to stand while any desired number of coils are being run into the same coil ofthe fabric, substantially as described.

13. In combination with the table-section T2 in a machine for weaving coiled-wire fabric having transverse coils, the jaws G, arranged and actuated to flatten the edges of the fabric, substantiall y as described.

14. In combination with the table-section T2, the jaws G, provided with cutters g5, arranged and operating in connection with said tablesection to simultaneously iiatten and trim the raw edges of the fabric, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORLANDO P. BRIGGS. Witnesses:

JEssE Cox, Jr., C. CLARENCE POOLE.

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